Bengals grant fields dreams

Campbell County High School in Alexandria, KY, will get a new synthetic turf football field thanks in part to a $200,000 grant from the Cincinnati Bengals through the National Football League Grassroots Program, it was announced Thursday in the following news release.

The grant, awarded by the Bengals, the NFL Youth Football Fund and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), is part of $2.5 million in field refurbishment awards allocated this year.

Campbell County School District will build the new field, which will accommodate Campbell County Youth Football and host local community events. An estimated 4,000 users will benefit from the new field.

"We are excited to be a part of such a wonderful project," said Katie Blackburn, Bengals executive vice president. "Our ability to give back to the community and support youth football in this area will bring great results both for the student athletes at Campbell County High School and the entire Campbell County community. We have found that these fields become true community assets, supporting sporting activities across the spectrum."

"We are very appreciative of the support provided for our stadium project. With this grant, we will be able to realize a dream and provide even more opportunities for our students and community," said Shelli L. Wilson, Associate Superintendent Campbell County Schools. "Initiatives such as this bring pride, engagement and involvement to all involved. We are honored to partner with these outstanding organizations which recognize and prioritize our youth."

The NFL Grassroots Program, a partnership between the NFL Youth Football Fund and LISC, the nation’s leading community development support corporation, has resulted in the construction or renovation of 256 football fields nationwide in the past 14 years. During that time, the NFL Youth Football Fund has granted more than $32.5 million to revitalize playing fields in underserved neighborhoods. Fields are newly built or significantly renovated, with improvements such as irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards, goal posts and turf. Grassroots grants are issued once established funding thresholds are reached for each project.

LISC identifies local, nonprofit, neighborhood-based agencies which have an interest in building or refurbishing football fields in schools and parks in underserved neighborhoods. Through the program, the local agencies are provided with the necessary financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of fields in their neighborhoods. The local agencies oversee the construction, maintenance and programming of the fields.

"Building sustainable communities – good places to live, work, do business and raise families – is a priority for LISC," said Michael Rubinger, LISC’s president and CEO. "Developing recreational facilities is a key part of that, and the NFL and the NFL Players Association have been committed partners in making it happen."

Everyone saw it coming, but it still didn’t make it any easier Friday when the Bengals released one of their more versatile players and valued leaders across the defensive front and around the locker room in 11-year veteran Robert Geathers.